Let's talk engines...

[RAO-3]

Originally Posted by Chaplin

Ray-
One of the things you might want to talk to Joe about would be using a stroker crank (can't have too much torque) and running a hydraulic roller cam shaft.

Thanks for the tip! Peter also mentioned that to me when I visited with him over the weekend. I have it on my "shopping list"

Ray

[brobehr]

Originally Posted by RalphSchmalph

Speaking of engines. Maybe this is a little off the point but my new BDR is going to have a 342R installed. It's polished. I read somewhere on this site that a polished engine runs hotter because it retains engine heat more than a simple iron or aluminum block. Is that true? It's not too late to get another engine. The car won't be ready until the end of the month.

A sealed surface could be prone to slower heat disspation. By polishing you take away surface area (atleast at the microscopic level )

probably not an issue with proper ariflow/cooling


brobehr

[ZOERA-SC7XX]

Ray, you are three hours away from ERA (I don't know what direction). Did you get a second or third quote for a 428/427 big block? There must be another engine builder closer to you that you can talk to. I'm not saying "don't go with Joe", just keep your options open until you educate yourself just like you did with the car itself. When I ordered my car Peter told me about Danbury Comp., but I had my own guy who I trusted (he built my Corvette small block and specializes in truck and deisel engines). My 428 started life as a 390 bored .080 over with a 428 (1U) crankshaft and flywheel. My engine runs great and cost me under 5000 bucks. Someone previously posted info (above) about a 390 stroker (445?) that made good power and great torque. I'm also aware that SCAT makes a stroker kit for the 390/427 engines. Kieth Craft also makes FE engines to suit your needs and is highly regarded as a master with Ford big blocks. All I'm saying is talk to some people before you write any checks. Good luck.

[cobra]

RAO-3

Don't forget to talk with George Anderson from Gessford about your desired engine, he's always great ideas.

http://www.gessford.com/

Gessford Machine Inc.

701 West South street

Hastings, NE 68901

402-463-9844 or 800-829-3448

[DonC]

Ray:
Joe has been building engines for a long time so, when you have something you want to try out, get his opinion on it. He built my 428 for me 4 years and 22,000+ miles ago and it's still running strong.
When I first stopped to see him I told him I wanted to try for a big block with 500 hp at the flywheel and 100,000 miles before I had to worry about rebuilding it. He mentioned that, while it could be done, it would be fairly expensive. If I could settle for 450 at the crank with 100,000 mile druability he could do it easily. I went with his suggestion and haven't looked back.
DonC

[RAO-3]

All good suggestions.

I will do some talking to some others, including the builder of my previous engines to see what they all have to say/offer.

I also ordered the two engine books listed on the ERA site - it's been quite a few years since I did anything with a ford block and they were all small blocks.

Ray

[RICK LAKE]

RAO-3 Ray Chaplin gave you 2 ideas to think about with the stroker kit, which will give you over 500ft. of torque and the maintainance issue of hydro roller lifters and rockers(ERSON). Don't worry about the HP. You want a very easy car with good drivibilities. Great power for a stop sign take off, starts rightup any time of the year, easy maintainance, and something that puts a smile on your face that your wife will not understand. Time for you to go back to school and brush up.. You only have 8 months and 26 days. Rick L.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by RAO-3

I also ordered the two engine books listed on the ERA site - it's been quite a few years since I did anything with a ford block and they were all small blocks.

Cobras are amazingly simple cars. You will be able to do 99% of your car's maintenace with the following basic tools -- most of which are already in your basement:

Basic wrenches, sockets, screwdrivers, crowfoots, & torque wrench

Timing Light & Inductive Tach that work with MSD units

Vacuum gauge

Low profile aluminum racing jack

Volt Ohm Meter

Lead Hammer

Oil filter Wrench & Grease Gun

RTV -- (your FE will leak)

[RAO-3]

Originally Posted by patrickt

Cobras are amazingly simple cars. You will be able to do 99% of your car's maintenace with the following basic tools -- most of which are already in your basement:

Basic wrenches, sockets, screwdrivers, crowfoots, & torque wrench

Timing Light & Inductive Tach that work with MSD units

Vacuum gauge

Low profile aluminum racing jack

Volt Ohm Meter

Lead Hammer

Oil filter Wrench & Grease Gun

RTV -- (your FE will leak)

I have to laugh; I got rid of some of these tools several years ago as I had no use for them on the "newer cars", such as the timing light, inductive tach. Isn't that the way it works?

Ray

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by RAO-3

I have to laugh; I got rid of some of these tools several years ago as I had no use for them on the "newer cars", such as the timing light, inductive tach. Isn't that the way it works?

Ray

You might never think of this, but one of the very best places to buy tools is your local pawn shop. Seriously.

[Jim Holden]

Tools...

and don't forget the set of special "Ford" open end wrenches that have been bent like a pretzel to access the driver side rear exhaust flange bolts...

J

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by Jim Holden

Tools...

This is "old-school," and it is absolutely invaluable. I've had guys giggle and snicker over the years, and then when I invited them to try it, they became immediate converts. You simply won't believe how well it works until you've tried it. Buy a set when your engine and accessories are all working properly and learn what they sound like from the inside. Then when something starts misbehaving it will jump out at you like a "thumping flat tire."

[fkemmerer]

Originally Posted by RAO-3

Am I wearing you guys down yet?

Looking around at the member's galleries, it would seem that every single cobra has a different engine.

When you first built/bought your cobra, did you install your 1st choice engine, or did you start out with some other engine that you either plan to replace, or have already replaced? In making your selection did you give any thought to the original cobra? I noted that some vendors kits seem to have more non-original engines than others.

What engine did you pick and why?

Who did you have build it, and were you happy with the result? If you had it to do over again, would you go with the same engine and builder; if not what would you have done differently.

Ray

Ray,

I had Keith Craft build an aluminum 482 ci FE for my ERA. Went with stack fuel injection also.



I wanted the authenticty (and torque) of a big block FE without the weight. This is why I went with an aluminum block and cyclinder heads. We've built two street engines with EFI now and I don't think I would build another one with a carb. EFI can make even radical combinations work great on the street. The picture below is the first EFI motor that we built for the street.



Both of these motors make north of 600 ft-lbs of torque and 600 hp on pump gas. I do not have the FE motor in my cobra yet but if the blown and injected motor shown above is any indication, it will be very streetable, start and idle well (even in cold weather), and will produce gobs of power when its called upon to do so.

Keith Craft is a good builder and I would recommend you speak with him about whatever you decide upon for a motor.

- Fred

[RICK LAKE]

fkemmerer Fred You guys in the north way way too much winter free time. The eye candy that comes from the Northern woods. Can you swap motors with the blower in the cobra??? NAY. That motor looks like it's from the other camp(gm). You are right about the FI systems and nasty motors.. What cam are you running in the 482 motor? Is the TWM setup 48mm or 58mm? Nice stuff. Rick L.

[RICK LAKE]

patrickt That is the best and one of the cheapest tools evryone should have in there tool box. The problem is that some people stick them TOO FAR into there ears and hear NOTHING.:L OL: Rick L.

[fkemmerer]

Originally Posted by RICK LAKE

fkemmerer Fred You guys in the north way way too much winter free time. The eye candy that comes from the Northern woods. Can you swap motors with the blower in the cobra??? NAY. That motor looks like it's from the other camp(gm). You are right about the FI systems and nasty motors.. What cam are you running in the 482 motor? Is the TWM setup 48mm or 58mm? Nice stuff. Rick L.

Rick,

Yup, the blown motor is from the other camp. The Cam in the 482 FE is a Keith Craft custom hyrdraulic roller grind. Here are some basic specs:

Intake Exhaust
Gross Valve Lift 0.645 in 0.635 in
Advertised Duration 304 315
Duration @ 0.050 242 248
Lobe speration angle 112

Stacks are 58 mm. Here's some dyno information if you are interested:



The FAST computer system that I'm using also has electronnic traction control. This setup uses a driveshaft speed spensor to detect when the rear wheels are spinning and the computer retards the ignition timing to reduce torque to control the tire spin. I'm anxious to see how well this will work when the package is in the car.

[RICK LAKE]

fkemmerer Fred is the the XFI system? Is there something new to hit the market. I know of the kit for MSD that the Nascar boys got catch with. The kits around $900.00 dollars. I have not seen must info. Thanks for the heads up. I will have to look into this for the 498 motor. I have the next size down cam for the 498 from Keith. I hate when he gives you a data sheet without ALL the info. No A/F readings, Eff Vol% , Air Flow. He doesn't use EGT's but IMO they are important also. More on a turbo motor but just the same on a blower motor also. I have 50lb injector on my 482. You running about the same? I don't know what you are running on the blower motor but anything over 72 lbs, SOME of the Fast or Speed Pro ECU's are having driver failures. I have had mine fixed once. The other time was me doing some welding and not unhooking the ECU. Blown Shunt in the box. DUMB@$$. I am looking for a little more torque than your motor and a little less HP. Will retard the cam 6-8 degrees. This will kill a little off the top end and a little extra power in the bottom. Sending my stacks out to Al for the custom screens that go between the stack and throttle body. May also add the little bubble ones on the top of the stacks for extra protection to keep out low flying birds. Thanks for the info. Hope to see your car running somewhere like Limerock one day. Rick L. Ps how's the fishing???

[fkemmerer]

Originally Posted by RICK LAKE

fkemmerer Fred is the the XFI system? Is there something new to hit the market. I know of the kit for MSD that the Nascar boys got catch with. The kits around $900.00 dollars. I have not seen must info. Thanks for the heads up. I will have to look into this for the 498 motor. I have the next size down cam for the 498 from Keith. I hate when he gives you a data sheet without ALL the info. No A/F readings, Eff Vol% , Air Flow. He doesn't use EGT's but IMO they are important also. More on a turbo motor but just the same on a blower motor also. I have 50lb injector on my 482. You running about the same? I don't know what you are running on the blower motor but anything over 72 lbs, SOME of the Fast or Speed Pro ECU's are having driver failures. I have had mine fixed once. The other time was me doing some welding and not unhooking the ECU. Blown Shunt in the box. DUMB@$$. I am looking for a little more torque than your motor and a little less HP. Will retard the cam 6-8 degrees. This will kill a little off the top end and a little extra power in the bottom. Sending my stacks out to Al for the custom screens that go between the stack and throttle body. May also add the little bubble ones on the top of the stacks for extra protection to keep out low flying birds. Thanks for the info. Hope to see your car running somewhere like Limerock one day. Rick L. Ps how's the fishing???

Rick,

Yes, the ETC system is an option on the FAST XFI system. Check out the following link for details:

http://www.fuelairspark.com/WhatsNew...t.asp?offset=5

The most difficult part of this setup involves fab'ing the driveshaft sensor setup. I started with a "standard" driveshaft sensor kit, removed the magnets and had a custom aluminum colar made to fit the flange on the ERA IRS center section. We then just installed the magnets from the original senstor kit in the custom part. Worked out quite well.

The injectors on the 482 are in the 50 lbs/hr range. The supercharged motor uses 60 lb/hr injectors.

- Fred